The Lute Society: Meetings

Meetings

For lute playing opportunities, see:

Lute society meetings are free for all to attend, although there is usually a charge if you wish to attend the recital at the end of the meeting.

Agendas from previous meetings are available.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are generally held at the Dutch Church, 7 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2HA (nearest tubes: Bank, Liverpool Street).

Next meeting

Saturday 4th November, at the Dutch Church

A history of fake lutes, talk by David van Edwards, women and the lute, talk and concert by Matthew Spring and Galliarda, talk on Englishwomen and the lute in 17th century by Sara Salloum, mini recital from Kristiina Watt.

No need to book - all welcome just turn up, and bring friends and family. The day is free, except for the final recital, tickets £13 including wine, tea, and home-made cake, on sale during the day, concessions on request.

If you are booking an advanced train ticket, our recitals usually end around 5.45 pm and always by 6 pm when we vacate the hall.

Other meetings and dates in 2023

Details subject to change.

  • Nov 9th-11th Lute Society stall at London International Festival of Early Music, Blackheath

Dates in 2024 for your diary

  • February 10th
  • March 7th-10th Benslow Lutefest
  • May 4th
  • September 7th
  • November 18th

Pictures from meetings

See a selection of pictures from meetings

Annual Benslow Lutefest March 97h-10th, 2024

We have an annual residential weekend, currently held at Benslow Music in Hitchin. We offer bursaries to students every year to attend. See some recent reflections and review for LuteFest 2020. The next Benslow Lutefest will be held on March 7th-10th 2024 with Jacob Heringman, Lynda Sayce, Matthew Spring, Sara Stowe, and two other teachers tba.

Upcoming lute events and concerts

See listings of upcoming events

International events: other national lute societies´meetings

2023

  • March 25th, Zoom meeting of the Societa Italiana del Liuto
  • April 1st-2nd, Societe Francaise de Luth, annual meeting, Chapelle Saint Thomas d'Aquin, 3 place St.Thomas d'Aquin, 75007 Paris, contact:
  • April 8th, Zoom meeting of the Societa Italiana del Liuto
  • May 4th, Zoom meeting of the Societa Italiana del Liuto
  • May 20th Scottish Lute and Early Guitar Society meeting, Edinburgh www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-meeting-20th-may-2023-tickets-623320878527
  • May 21st-23rd Deutsche Lautengesellschaft meeting at Burg Sternberg, near Lemgo, Germany,
  • June 25th, Nederlands Luit Vereniging, meeting, Centrale Bibliotheek, Spui 68, Den Haag, Muziekverdieping (5e etage)
  • July 8th, meeting of the Scottish Lute and Early Guitar Society, Edinburgh
  • July 9th-16th, Lute Society of America Lutefest East at Amherst Early Music Festival
  • July 30-August 5th Lute Society of America online Lutefest
  • September 16th, Raphael Mest lute conference and concert, Linkoping, Sweden, aquilacorde.com/Linkoping/.
  • October 1, à Foranim, 48 rue Bargue 75015 Paris, Concerts de rentrée de la Société Française de Luth
  • October 14-15, Italian lute society meeting, Roma
  • October 15th Belgian lute day
  • October, Grand Lute Festival, Rome, date tba
  • November 1-3 Tablature in Western Music Study Group Meeting, Tours, 2023 Meeting, Tours, at the Centre d’Etudes Supèrieures de la Renaissance. ricercar-tours.fr/workshop-tablatures-at-tours-2-3-november-2023/
  • November 18th, European Lute Orchestra concert, Prato
  • November 25th-26th, Nederlands Luitvereiniging 40th anniversary celebration, Utrechtse Muziekschool, Domplein, Utrecht

2024

  • April 6th-7th, Societe Francaise de Luth, 40th anniversary party, Chapelle Saint Thomas d'Aquin, 3 place St.Thomas d'Aquin, 75007 Paris,

Back list of virtual meetings on our Youtube Channel

Prompted by the Covid pandemic, in 2020 and 2021 we held some 'virtual meetings', which you can view online: